Infielder Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres earned a utility and second base nomination for the 2023 NL Gold Glove Awards. Also, he is one of three nominees for the spots. In the 2023 season, he finished with +10 outs above average. He also got +7 OAA as a second baseman.
According to Korean Sports Betting reports, Bryson Stott of the Philadelphia Phillies and Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs are the other two second-base candidates. Slott had a +16 OAA this season, and Hoerner had a +15 OAA.
For the title given to the best defensive player at the utility position, Kim has competition from Tommy Edman of the St. Louis Cardinals and Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Kim split his time this year between third base (32) and second (106). On the other side, Betts split his time between second base (70 games) and shortstop (16 games). He has been so good in the right field that he earned six Gold Gloves.
NL Gold Glove Awards
Last season, Edman showed good defensive flexibility, accumulating a +10 OAA, and was awarded the 2021 National League Gold Glove at second base for his efforts.
According to Sports News Coverage sources, Kim would make history if he were to win the Gold Glove. He would be the first player to win the KBO Golden Glove and the MLB Gold Glove. Kim, a shortstop with the Kiwoom Heroes, earned the Golden Glove thrice between 2018 and 2020.
The MLB states that 30 managers and up to six coaches from each team will vote on a group of players from their league, except for the utility position.
Since 2013, the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Defensive Index has been utilized to assist in choosing Gold Glove winners, accounting for 25% of the final decision. Rawlings, an MLB-owned sports equipment manufacturer, will collaborate with SABR to develop a unique defensive methodology for determining the utility position winner.
According to sportsbook reviews and news sites, the MLB will reveal who won Gold Gloves on ESPN’s “Baseball Tonight” on November 5th.
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